Government driving down electric avenue

THE GOVERNMENT is to lead by example by buying more than 150 electric and plug-in hybrid cars for its fleets. All fleet managers will have funding allocated with a view to buying ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEVs) to replace older vehicles as part of the their normal working life cycle. According to Westminster sources, a long-term plan is in place to make such cars and vans entirely commonplace.

Cars UK wishes all our readers a Merry Christmas

Bernie Ecclestone's Christmas Card 2011 Seasons Greetings to all our readers, and a small selection of Car Makers’ Christmas Greetings 2011. The one day of the year we all get a day off, with just the exception of one story to wish you all a Merry Christmas. This year we’ve use Bernie Ecclestone’s Christmas Card for 2011, which perhaps sums up much of F1 for 2011, and the magnetic attraction Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa had for one another this year.

U.S. safety officials deny airbag exemption for the Pagani Huayra

U.S. safety officials have shot down Italian supercar maker Pagani's request that the Huayra coupe be exempted from needing advanced airbags--a move that means Pagani can't legally sell the car in the States. Safety rules require that all new cars sold in the United States be equipped with airbags that can automatically adjust deployment force based on the height and weight of the seat occupant.